Change rules

The controversial takeover of Cadbury by US food group Kraft highlights the people management challenges of mergers and acquisitions, as workers at Cadbury in the UK wait to hear more about the likely impact on their jobs.Later this month, a CIPD special interest forum workshop – “Maintaining engagement through business transformation” – will look at how to maintain employees’ motivation, trust and loyalty during and following a merger or acquisition. The half-day workshop will focus on the CIPD’s recent research on the subject, The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Employer Brands, carried out by the Bernard Hodes Group. The group’s chief executive, Helen Rosethorn, will present an overview of the findings.